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Classical Music for Aficionados

I would like to start a thread, similar to Orpheus’ jazz site, for lovers of classical music.
I will list some of my favorite recordings, CDs as well as LP’s. While good sound is not a prime requisite, it will be a consideration.
  Classical music lovers please feel free to add to my lists.
Discussion of musical and recording issues will be welcome.

I’ll start with a list of CDs.  Records to follow in a later post.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique.  Chesky  — Royal Phil. Orch.  Freccia, conductor.
Mahler:  Des Knaben Wunderhorn.  Vanguard Classics — Vienna Festival Orch. Prohaska, conductor.
Prokofiev:  Scythian Suite et. al.  DG  — Chicago Symphony  Abbado, conductor.
Brahms: Symphony #1.  Chesky — London Symph. Orch.  Horenstein, conductor.
Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat. HDTT — Ars Nova.  Mandell, conductor.
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Analogue Productions. — Dallas Symph Orch. Johanos, cond.
Respighi: Roman Festivals et. al. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.

All of the above happen to be great sounding recordings, but, as I said, sonics is not a prerequisite.


128x128rvpiano
schubert
7,386 posts
 
gregm, I can see with your Mahler suggestions you will be a big help on here !


As a Brahms lover the Curzon -Szell is quite good but IMO the sound leaves a lot to be desired .My favorites are a masterpiece with Nelson Freire and the Vienna PO under the great Sir John Barbirolli on Decca .
A sleeper is Daniel Barenboim on EMI with Ricardo Chailly and the Gewandhaus Orch. Great performance with beautiful sound .
jim204
881 posts
 
Len and RV if you would like a good recommendation for a Mahler 3 with an
older conductor how about Bernard Haitink with the  Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks on BR Klassiks. Obviously the conducting is beyond reproach and the beauty of tone in the final movement is a wonder  to behold. This recording is now my number1 of all the 3's I have. Yes Len I agree with you re Blomstedt he just keeps getting better , I was listening to him playing Beethoven's Symphony No 7 from last year and it was delightful with playing full of charm and fun. These conductors are so loved and revered by their orchestras that they pull out all the stops for them.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Just so, just so jim ! When I knew most of the players of the Berlin R.I..A.S ,
Blomstedt often filled in and the players really and truly loved him . He was open to what they thought .
He is a pious Christian and radiates love towards all .

I treasure his 2017 DVD of Bach’s "Mass in b Minor" which Blomstedt sees as Bach’s greatest piece .Both the Dresden Kammerchor and Gewandhaus Leipzig give him their all .I have heard good recordings of this by non-believers, but a true believer just gives more at all levels .
jim204
881 posts
 
How true Len how true, I shall have to look for his mass myself and although deeply sceptical of all religions I do admire pious men who do everything in praise of their God and are deeply attatched to earthly human beings. Bach and his contemporaries are the greatest of all human beings and composers just like their counterparts in great art. All you need to do is think of Leonardo and Michaelangelo, they have not been beaten by the centuries that followed them. I don't know about you guys but when I see todays "modern art" I am filled with depression and can only think "why" when I see the awful rubbish that is churned out ad nauseum in both art and music, it really does depress me . Now for some Prozac !!
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
It's hard to go wrong with Bernstein and NYPO, surely.  But then I have a weakness for Bernstein...
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